Ph.D. Thesis
"Holistic Optimization of Data Center Cooling Systems and Airflow Management" (2020)
First Job After Graduation
Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University
Research/Specialization
Dr. Xu Han received his bachelor’s degree from Harbin Institute of Technology with the award of “Outstanding Graduate” in 2011, master’s degree from Tianjin University with the award of “Outstanding Graduate” in 2014 and received his PhD from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2020. Before his study at CU Boulder, he had three years’ working experience as a MEP engineer at an architectural design firm in China. His primary research areas are building performance simulation and building system optimal control. His research interests include fast simulation of the indoor environment, coupled simulation of building systems and indoor environment, simulation-based optimization, model predictive control and learning-based optimal control. During his study at CU Boulder, he was awarded with ASHRAE College of Fellows Travel Award, Strauch Family Fellowship scholarship and Dissertation Completion Fellowship. He has published various peer-reviewed papers and one of them was selected for a Best Paper Award by the journal Building and Environment.
Publications
Journal Papers:
12. X. Han, W. Tian, J. VanGilder, W. Zuo, C. Faulkner 2021. "An Open Source Fast Fluid Dynamics Model for Data Center Thermal Management." Energy and Buildings, 230, pp 110599.
11. Y. Fu, X. Han, K. Baker, W. Zuo 2020. “Assessments of Data Centers for Provision of Frequency Regulation.” Applied Energy, 277, pp 115621.
10. W. Tian, X. Han, W. Zuo, Q. Wang, Y. Fu, M. Jin 2019. “An Optimization Platform Based on Coupled Indoor Environment and HVAC Simulation and Its Application in Optimal Thermostat Placement.” Energy and Buildings, 199, pp. 342-251.
9. W. Tian, J.W. VanGilder, X. Han, C.M. Healey, M.B. Condor, W. Zuo 2019. “A New Fast Fluid Dynamics Model for Data-Center Floor Plenums.” ASHRAE Transactions, 125, pp. 141-148.
8. S. Huang, Y. Ye, X. Han, W. Zuo, X. Zhang, L. Jiang 2019. “Performance Evaluation of Heating Tower Heat Pump Systems over the World.” Energy Conversion and Management, 186, pp. 500-515. DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2019.03.003
7. Y. Fu, W. Zuo, M. Wetter, J. VanGilder, X. Han, D. Plamondon 2019. “Equation-Based Object-Oriented Dynamic Modeling and Simulation for Data Center Cooling System: A Case Study in Massachusetts.” Energy and Buildings, 186, pp. 108-125. DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2019.01.018.
6. W. Tian. X. Han, W. Zuo, M. D. Sohn 2018. “Building Energy Simulation Coupled with CFD for Indoor Environment: A Critical Review and Recent Applications.” Energy and Buildings, 165, pp.184-199. DOI:10.1016/j.enbuild.2018.01.046.
5. Q. Wang, Y. Pan, M. Zhu, Z. Huang, W. Tian, W. Zuo, X. Han, P. Xu 2017. “A State-Space Method for RealTime Transient Simulation of Indoor Airflow.” Building and Environment, 126, pp. 184-194. DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2017.09.032.
4. Y. Lu, J. Pei, X. Han, L. Liu, J. Liu 2014. "Review of gaseous pollutants in aircraft cabin and purification technologies." Heating Ventilating & Air Conditioning. (in Chinese)
3. J. Pei, X. Han, Y. Lu, 2015. "Performance and kinetics of catalytic oxidation of formaldehyde over copper manganese oxide catalyst." Building and Environment, 84, 134-141. (2015 Best Paper Award)
2. X. Han, J. Pei, J. Liu, L. Xu 2013. "Multi-objective building energy consumption prediction and optimization for eco-community planning." Energy and Buildings, 66(5), 22-32.
1. L. Xu, J. Liu, J. Pei, X. Han 2013. "Building energy saving potential in hot summer and cold winter (hscw) zone, china—influence of building energy efficiency standards and implications." Energy Policy, 57(7), 253-262.
Peer Reviewed Conference Papers:
4. X. Han, W. Tian, W. Zuo, J.W. VanGilder 2019. “Optimization of Workload Distribution of Data Centers Based on a Self-Learning In Situ Adaptive Tabulation Model.” Accepted by the 16th Conference of International Building Performance Simulation Association (Building Simulation 2019), September 2-4, Rome, Italy.
3. W. Tian, J.W. VanGilder, M.B. Condor, X. Han, W. Zuo 2019. “An Accurate Fast Fluid Dynamics Model for Data Center Applications.” The Intersociety Conference on Thermal and Thermomechanical Phenomena in Electronic Systems (ITherm 2019), May 28-31, Las Vegas, NV.
2. H. Qiao, X. Han, S. Nabi, C.R. Laughman 2019. Coupled Simulation of a Room Air-conditioner with CFD Models for Indoor Environment. In Proceedings of the 13th International Modelica Conference, Regensburg, Germany, March 4–6, 2019(No. 157). Linköping University Electronic Press.
1. X. Han, J. Pei, Y. Lu, Z. Wang 2013. “Performance of Thermal-catalytic Oxidization Technology for Formaldehyde Removal at Typical Indoor Environment”. ASHRAE IAQ 2013, October 15-18, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Patents:
2. J. Pei, X. Han 2013. “Air purification filter media performance test system (空气净化滤料测试实验系统).” CN Patent ZL 201220534587.0, 2013.05.01.
1. J. Zhao, X. Han, Y. Shui, M. Yang, C. Zuo 2010. “A kind of ventilating device (一种自然风接收装置).” CN Patent: ZL201020129430.0, 2010.10.06.